Allisha Gray Ruled Out for Game 2 of WNBA Semifinals With Finger Injury

Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray will miss Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals against the New York Liberty after suffering a finger injury in the series opener.

The Atlanta Dream will be without one of their most important players Wednesday night.

Gray has been ruled out for Game 2 after injuring her left hand during Atlanta’s 92-82 victory over the New York Liberty in Game 1. Dream head coach Karl Smesko confirmed Tuesday that Gray will miss Wednesday’s matchup and is considered day-to-day moving forward.

Smesko said Gray underwent an X-ray on her finger but did not provide additional details about the injury.

The injury occurred during the first half of Game 1. Gray initially left the court after appearing to hurt her hand, returned with her ring and pinky fingers taped, and later appeared to aggravate the injury while diving for a loose ball.

She ultimately finished with seven points in 11 minutes and did not return.

Dream Already Proved They Can Win Without Gray

Atlanta will enter Game 2 with confidence after overcoming Gray’s absence to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Jordin Canada erupted for 25 points, five steals and four assists, while DeWanna Bonner delivered one of the biggest performances of the night with 23 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Rhyne Howard added 16 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, while Angel Reese finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Atlanta’s defense was equally important.

The Dream forced New York into 21 turnovers and converted those mistakes into 32 points, tying the all-time WNBA playoff record for points off turnovers. Atlanta also exploded for 32 points in the third quarter to turn a three-point halftime deficit into a 14-point advantage.

That depth will be tested even more in Game 2.

Who Replaces Allisha Gray?

Bonner is the most obvious candidate to take Gray’s place in the starting lineup after her Game 1 performance.

Smesko also indicated that Izzy Borlase, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Te-Hina Paopao could see additional minutes as Atlanta adjusts to a thinner rotation.

Gray’s absence is significant. She was Atlanta’s leading scorer during the regular season and a four-time WNBA All-Star. Wednesday will mark the first game she has missed this season.

The good news for Atlanta is that the team has already demonstrated its ability to compensate for her absence.

The bigger question is whether the Dream can do it for an entire game against a Liberty team that will be desperate to even the series.

Liberty Looking to Respond

New York enters Game 2 needing a much better performance after committing 21 turnovers in the opener.

Sabrina Ionescu scored 27 points in Game 1, but the Liberty struggled to consistently generate offense against Atlanta’s pressure defense. New York surrendered 32 points off turnovers, including 16 during Atlanta’s dominant third quarter.

The Liberty now have an opportunity to take advantage of Gray’s absence.

A win would even the series at 1-1 before the matchup shifts back to New York.

A Dream victory, however, would put Atlanta firmly in control with a 2-0 series lead.

Game 2 Details